Brick



May 18, 1943 M. BRANHAM 2,319,203

BRICK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1940 n I I arlz'u flranlzam May 18, 1.943 M. BRANHAM 3 BRICK Filed April 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 rib: Brankm May 18, 1943 M'. BRANHAM BRICK Filed April 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 3mm .Zllariin .Braufiazn Patent ed May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE 2,319,203 BRieK Marti-n Branham, Pound, Va. I

Application April .16, 1940', Serial No. 329,972

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved brick.

One object .of the invention is to provide a brick which is of double section construction so that efifective insulation .for a building employing the brick will be assured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brick wherein the sections are defined by alongitudinal partition, the partition and walls of the brick being formed with slots for preventing moisture from passing from .one wall of the brick to the other.

A further object of the invention is .to provide a brick which is of such size that it may be substituted for a plurality of bricks of ordinary size.

' A further object of the invention is to .provide .a device of this character which has its front and rear surfaces formed similarly so that said device may be positioned with either wall outermost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brick which may be used to take the place of from five and one-half to six and one-half bricks of ordinary size.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a brick wherein each section is divided by partitions into vertically extending ventilation chambers.

Still other objects of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved brick,

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away to show one of the vertically extending slots in one of the walls,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on th line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 i a top plan view of a slightly modified embodiment,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 4 Figure '7 is a top plan view of another modification of the invention,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the invention as seen in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a top plan View of still another modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals will be seen to designate like parts throughout the views, my brick is shown in general by the numeral I. My improved brick is formed of tile, clay or other suitable material, and includes end walls 2 and 3 and front and rear walls 4 and 5. A partition 6 extends from the central portion of the end wall 2 to the central portion of the end wall 3 and divides the interior of the brick into sections 7 and B. The sections 7 and 8 are each divided into vertically extending ventilation chambers 9 by means of webs ill. The webs l0 extend at right angles to the partition 6 on each side thereof and in longi tudinal alinement. As shown in Figure 1, two of the webs Ill are provided for each of the sections 1 and 8. These two Webs divide each partition into the vertically extending chambers .9, which chambers are all of equal size. It should be understood that as many of the webs it may :be employed as is desired, depending upon the number of chambers .9 to be defined.

he front and .rear walls 4 and 5 are each formed with a vertically extending mortar joint i 2. By virtue of the fact that .a mortar joint l-Z is formed in each of the walls 4 and 5, it will be possible to position either of said walls outermost so that it will make no difference whichof Attention the walls are positioned to the front.

is called to the fact that the brick shown in Figure l is a corner brick, that is :to say, it is to be placed at the corner of a building. Courses. of bricks will lead from the end wall -2, to define one wall and from the rear wall 5, adjacent the wall 3, to define the other Wall. In the bricks which are connected with the corner brick I, the mortar joints l2 will be located medially of the lengthsofsaid bricks so as to lend the impression that two ordinary bricks are employed Formed in the walls2, '3, 4 and 5 of the brick I l and in the partition '6 are slots 3. The slots extend throughout the entire height of the brick and are disposed longitudinally of the walls in which they are formed. As will-be seen in Figure 1, certain of the slots l3 are disposed between the front wall 4 and the ends of the webs m of the section 1. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent moisture from creeping through the front wall and through the webs to the rear wall 5, which is disposed at the interior of the building.

In other words, the slots will prevent moisture from being conducted through the wall. Certain of the slots l3 are also formed in the partition 6 near the meeting inner ends of the webs if). It will now be understood that said slots will be effective for preventing entrance of moisture to the interior of the building through a wall made from my brick.

The sections 1 and 8, with their ventilation channels, will define a double section construction for providing additional insulation so that excessive heat will be kept out of the interior of the building in summer. The double section construction obviously will be effective for retaining heat within the building in cold weather.

It should be understood that, during construction of a building, allowance will be made for a one-half inch mortar joint between adjacent bricks. As stated heretofore, the brick shown in Figures 1 to 3 is to be a starting brick and is to be located at the corner of the building. The brick shown is a brick and a half long on its front and rear faces and one brick long on its end faces. What is meant by a brick and a half long is that my improved brick will be of a length equivalent to a brick and a half of the ordinarytype, together with the mortar joint between them. Of course, what is meant by stating that the ends will be of one brick length is that said ends will be of a length equivalent to one brick of ordinary construction.

It is thought that the construction of this embodiment of my improved brick will be thoroughly understood.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4, and 6 of the drawings, the numeral [4 indicates a brick which is of the same outside configuration as the brick l. Slots [5 are formed in the brick l4 and are arranged in the front and rear walls of said brick. The front and rear walls are designated by the numerals i6 and I1. Mortar joints [8 are formed in the front and rear walls so that either of said walls may be placed outermost, as desired. A partition [9 extends longitudinally of the brick l4 and defines sections 20 and 2|. Each of the sections 20 and 2| is divided into ventilation channels by webs 22. The construction of the brick I4 is identical with that of the brick I, with the exception that the partition I9 is of single thickness and is not provided with moisture arresting slots l5. The slots are arranged so as to prevent moisture from passing through the webs 22.

It is thought that further description of this embodiment of the invention is unnecessary due to its similarity with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the numeral 25 indicates the body of the brick of this embodiment. The brick 25 is formed with walls 26 and 21 and an intermediate partition 28, said intermediate partition cooperating with the walls 26 and 21 to define a double wall construction. Partitions 26 at each side of the partition 28 provide bracing means and define dead-air spaces. Slots 30, which extend vertically, as in the first discussed embodiment of the invention, prevent seepage of moisture through the partitions 29 and the walls 26 and 21. It will thus be seen that a dry interior will be assured for a building formed of brick made according to the embodiment of this invention. A dove-tail slot 30 is formed on the wall 26 so that plaster may be caused to adhere more readily to the brick, and without th use of lath. Slots 32 are formed in the walls 26 and 21, at their opposite corresponding ends, and provide means whereby a number of bricks, made according to this embodiment, may be efiectively mortared together.

The brick of this embodiment is of such size that it may be substituted for from five and onehalf to six and one-half ordinary brick. I have designated my brick as limit brick.

Referring to the embodiment as shown in Figure 9, the numeral 33 indicates the body of the brick of this embodiment. The body 33 is formed with walls 34 and 35 which are separated by an intermediate wall or partition 36, which defines a double wall construction. Partitions 31 define dead-air spaces, as in the other embodiments of the invention. Slots 38, as in said other embodiments, prevent seepage of moisture from one wall through to the other. The brick of this embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use on the corners of a building, one of them being positioned at every other layer along the height of the wall of said building. Slots 3!! are formed at one end of the body of the brick and, like the slots 32, provide means for receiving mortar so that the brick of this embodiment may be firmly secured to its associated bricks. It is thought that further description is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A brick having front, rear and end walls, a partition extending longitudinally of the brick medially between the front and rear walls and having its ends connected with the end walls,said partition defining inner and outer sections, spaced transverse webs extending between the partition and the front and rear walls and defining ventilation chambers, cblong openings formed in the front and rear walls and in the end walls, certain of the oblong openings in the end walls being of greater length than the thickness of the partition and disposed opposite the ends of said partition and certain of the openings in the front and rear walls being of greater length than the thickness of the webs and disposed opposite the outer ends of the webs, said openings tending to prevent seepage of moisture from the front wall toward the rear wall and from the end walls through said partition to the said front and rear walls each having a rear wall, the outer faces of vertical slot to receive mortar 'for anchoring the brick to a surface. 

